Football | Bafana Bafana

Bafana to play Spain next month

Bafana Bafana have secured a high-profile international friendly match, this time with a date, against world champions Spain on November 19.

The match will be played at FNB Stadium and will form part of Spain's preparations for the 2014 World Cup.

For Bafana, this will present coach Gordon Igesund with an opportunity to continue building after missing the cut for the 2014 World Cup.

It will be the third meeting between the two countries in South Africa, following their two meetings during the 2009 Fifa Confederations Cup. Spain won both matches (2-0 and 3-2) played in Johannesburg and Rustenburg.

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For Spain, this will be the first time they return to South Africa since their 2010 World Cup triumph, where they beat Netherlands in the final played at FNB Stadium.

“It is the new Safa executive’s mission to make Bafana Bafana world beaters again and we have lined up top-class sides to play our senior national team. We could not have asked for a better start of this campaign than with the game against reigning Fifa World Cup champions Spain,” said Safa president Dr Danny Jordaan.

“It is a dream come true for many soccer fans to once again see the likes of Iniesta and Xavi in action at the venue where they made history by lifting their first World Cup trophy. This is going to be a blockbuster of a game,” added Jordaan.

The SA national team is scheduled to play several other international matches including Brazil in March next year. This match is likely to be played in Johannesburg at FNB Stadium.

Prior to the Brazil match, Bafana will feature in the 2014 African Nations Championship (Chan) to be staged in South Africa in January.

This tournament is, however, for players based on the African continent and will not feature any of the overseas-based players.

The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) said it was excited to return to the city and venue that gave them fame.

“We wish to demonstrate our gratitude for the wonderful hospitality of the South African sports authorities and the support of the country’s football fans during the 2010 South Africa World Cup, where Spain was proclaimed champion for the first time in history,” said Spanish Football Association President, Mr Angel Maria Villar Llona.

"At the end of the match, played on 11th July 2010 at the same stadium, the top officials of the RFEF expressed their thanks for the support received and promised to return to South Africa to play a friendly match, in the same way we did in Vienna after winning the Euro 2008."